Control over Mumbai should lie with Maharashtra Government: Sena

Mumbai: Cautioning Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his suggestion of a high-level committee for Mumbai's development, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the control over the city should lie with the state government.

"There is no doubt that Mumbai should develop, but we have to ensure that the remedy does not turn out to be more dangerous than the illness itself. The Shiv Sena believes that Mumbai will not be separated from Maharashtra and the control of the city will only lie with the state government," the Shiv Sena, which recently joined the BJP-led state government, said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"If the PM only gives special attention to Mumbai, he will be accused of favouritism. Opposition parties will get the ammunition to fire salvo at the government saying that big industrialists are close to the BJP, hence the PM is giving special attention to the city," it said.

The Sena said other cities of the state, like Mumbai, should also be made into world class cities and the focus should not be on Mumbai alone. "Nagpur is the second capital of Maharashtra. The Vidarbha region is in dire need of development and industrial growth. Even cities in the Marathwada region can be developed into world class cities. All this will contribute to the development of the state," the editorial said.

While addressing a high-level meeting of chief ministers recently convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide a substitute for the planning commission, Fadnavis had suggested to the Centre that a high-level committee headed by Modi be set up for the development of the city.

"Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, unless Mumbai is developed, there is no scope for the development of the country. For Mumbai's development, there is an urgent need of effective coordination between state and central agencies. Under such circumstances, it will be appropriate to set up a Mumbai development committee headed by the PM," Fadnavis had said.